Missouri Revised Statutes

Unmarked human burials, knowledge or discovery--notice to local law
enforcement officer or state historic preservation
officer--jurisdiction, how determined.

194.406. 1. Any person knowing or with reason to know that an unmarked
human burial or human skeletal remains are being disturbed, destroyed,
defaced, mutilated, removed, or excavated, or exposed shall immediately
notify either the state historic preservation officer or the local law
enforcement officer with jurisdiction for the area in which the burial or
remains are encountered.

2. When an unmarked human burial or human skeletal remains are
encountered as a result of construction or agricultural earth disturbing
activities or by a professional archaeologist in the course of an
investigation all such activities shall cease immediately within a radius of
fifty feet of the point of discovery. Such activity shall not resume without
specific authorization from either the state historic preservation officer or
the local law enforcement officer, whichever party has jurisdiction over and
responsibility for such remains. Said parties shall act promptly and make a
decision within a reasonable time. Jurisdiction will be determined as
follows:

(1) If upon investigation, the local law enforcement officer determines
that the human skeletal remains may be involved in a legal investigation,
that officer will immediately assume all jurisdiction over and responsibility
for such remains;

(2) If upon investigation, the local enforcement officer determines that
the remains are not involved in a legal investigation, the state historic
preservation officer or his duly designated representative shall assume
responsibility for such remains.